HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 92-261 2 G 0'
RESOLUTION
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF BEAUMONT:
THAT the City Manager be, and he is hereby authorized, to submit an RFP Response for a
Fresh Water Fisheries Center to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, a copy of which is
attached hereto as Exhibit "A" and made a part hereof for all purposes.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL of the City of Beaumont this the -Zay
of 1992.
- Mayor -
FRESH WATER FISHERIES CENTER
RFP RESPONSE
City of Beaumont, Texas
City Staff are in the process of preparing a response to an
RFP from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation and "Operation
Share A Lone Star Lunker, Inc. " which calls for local proposals to
participate in the construction of a "state of the art" fish
hatchery somewhere in east Texas. Additionally, that facility
will include a center to house a "Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum"
and a fishing pond specifically constructed for use by children,
disadvantaged youths, and disabled persons. The facility will be
a "privately funded" hatchery/research center and educational
facility and is intended to be a high-profile, actively promoted
attraction, intended to educate and entertain its targeted
audience.
A minimum 60 acre site will contain a 25, 000 square foot
hatchery building, 40 acres of plastic-lined ponds, a visitor
center, and the above mentioned Hall of Fame/Fishing Museum and a
fishing pond. The hatchery will supply brood fish for the state's
hatchery program and have a potential annual production capacity of
4-5 million fingerlings. The facility will emphasize production
of Florida largemouth bass.
The proposed "Fresh Water Fisheries Center" is estimated to
cost $10, 000, 000 to $12, 000, 000 with construction to begin in late
1993 . Responses to the RFP are due by the end of September with
reviews of the responses occurring in October. A site selection
will be made by mid-November.
Federal matching funds through the Wallop-Breaux Federal +Fund
are available for this project on a 3 to 1 match basis. Private
and local funds to build this 10-12 million dollar project would
therefore be $3 million to $4 million. Cash or land, material, and
labor donations are acceptable contributions.
Our proposal calls for the development of the facility on a
highly visible, sixty acre tract of land donated by the Phelan's
and fronting approximately 1300 feet on the south side of I-10
between Major and Brooks roads. Accessibility to and from the
site can only be described as superb as the site borders an
existing service road between two interchanges. A rail line and
State Hwy. 124 borders the rear of the property.
The proposed site will have ample fresh water available from
the canal facilities of the Lower Neches River Authority. Only
some 1000 feet of piping or canal improvements are needed to get
that water to the site. The city will provide that improvement.
Drainage from the site will be into Willow Marsh Bayou which
borders the.-site on the north. Public water and sewer facilities
are not presently at the site but will be provided by the City.
EXHIBIT "A`°
Fill dirt, located adjacent to the site will be donated by the
Phelan' s, as needed.
The facility is expected to employee 15-20 people and have an
annual operating budget of $750, 000 (including salaries) . The
local economic impact of the facility is estimated at $2 . 4 million
annually. The area could, also expect to become the focal point for
Texas bass fishing and see a growth in related industries, support
businesses, conventions, etc.
The selected local site is on the heavily travelled I-10 which
carries east-west bound traffic across the entire country. Tourists
going through the city will be able to see the facility from the
interstate highway and be attracted to stop and visit the facility.
During such stops they are likely to spend money on food, retail
goods, lodging, etc. The fishing museum will also further add to
the city' s inventory of museum attractions for which the city has
become noted.
Southeast Texas has many fresh water lakes and ponds and many
miles of waterways such as rivers, creeks, and bayous. The area
also has many brackish lakes and waterways along the coastal
region. Sabine Lake in the Port Arthur area is a large waterbody
of that type. Many rivers in the region, such as the Neches, the
Trinity, the Sabine, and the San Jacinto have reservoirs
constructed on them to provide large emboundments of water for
recreational and other purposes. Reservoirs such as B.A.
Steinhagen, Livingston, Sam Rayburn, and Toledo Bend will benefit
from location of this facility in Beaumont and the hatchery and
associated facilities will benefit from having these good fishing
lakes in close proximity to the facility. -
Summary of Local/Private/Federal Contributions
To Protect
Item Description Cash/Donation In-Kind Total
Land @ $25, 000/Ac. * $1,500,000 - $ 1,500,000
Water/Sewer Facilities - $34, 500 $ 34 , 500
Fresh Water Facilities $
Site Preparation $ $ $
Total $ $ $
Facilities Constr.
Total Local/Private ** $ 3,000,000
Federal Match @ 3 : 1 $9, 000, 000 $ 9,000,000
-------------------------------------
Totals $ $12,000,000